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EARLY RUSSIA AND THE KIEVAN RUS 800s to 1100s CE. Spread of Eastern European Civilization. 864 -- Cyril and Methodius Byzantine missionaries Successful in Russia and the Balkans Used Slavic Created Cyrillic alphabet Eastern Orthodox religion-Eastern Europe and Russia
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EARLY RUSSIA AND THE KIEVAN RUS 800s to 1100s CE
Spread of Eastern European Civilization • 864 -- Cyril and Methodius • Byzantine missionaries • Successful in Russia and the Balkans • Used Slavic • Created Cyrillic alphabet • Eastern Orthodox religion-Eastern Europe and Russia • Jews immigrated to the region
THE KIEVAN RUS • Heavily influenced by Byzantium • Area was populated by Slavs • 6th and 7th centuries – Scandinavian traders appeared-Set up governments along their trade routes-Kiev • 855 -- Monarchy was established under Rurik
BYZANTIUM AND THE RUS • Contacts between the two kingdoms increased steadily • Kiev became a prosperous trading center • Around 1000 – Vladimir I converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity • Forced his subjects to convert • Controlled major church appointments • Separate Russian Orthodox church developed
CHARACTERISTICS OF KIEVAN RUS • Largest single state in Europe • Highly decentralized • Yaroslav – Last of the great Kievan princes • Codified laws • Built many churches • Translated religious literature from Greek to Slavic
INSTITUTIONS AND CULTURE • Byzantine influence • Ceremonies, luxuries, and absolute power of the leader • Fervent devotion to God • Ornate churches filled with icons • Monogamy • Literature • Focused on religious and royal events • No significant philosophical or scientific contributions
Art- Focused on religion • Architecture- Orthodox churches • Society • Peasants were fairly free farmers • Boyars – Russian aristocratic class • Entertainment • Low literacy- story telling • Combined music, street performances, and theater
KIEVAN DECLINE – 12TH CENTURY • Causes: • Rival princes set up regional governments • Fighting within the royal family over succession • Asian invaders whittled away Russian territory • Decline of Byzantium decreased Russian trade and wealth • Two Mongol invasions (Mongols are called Tartars by the Russians)
MONGOL CONTROL OF RUSSIA • Lasted for over two centuries • Consequences: • Further separated Russia from western Europe • Russian literature languished • Trade lapsed • Russia was isolated
Russian Orthodox Christianity and the boyars were spared • Tribute • 15th century – Tartars were forced out • Russian culture and politics began to reemerge • Mantle of east European leadership fell to Russia because of the fall of Byzantium
END OF AN ERA IN EASTERN EUROPE • Byzantium and Russia were under siege • Eastern Europe fell on hard times • They had been ahead of western Europe during Byzantine domination, but fell behind western Europe after the fall of Byzantium